Uruguay erupts after Copa joy
Source: Agencies |
July 26, 2011, Tuesday
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THOUSANDS of Uruguayan fans, many with faces painted sky blue, flooded into the streets of capital Montevideo on Sunday to celebrate their team's record-breaking Copa America triumph.
Striker Diego Forlan scored twice after Luis Suarez's opening goal as "La Celeste" beat Paraguay 3-0 to be crowned South American champion for a record 15th time.
Some 3,000 fans watched the final on a giant screen set up in Montevideo's central avenue despite the chilly winter weather and the final whistle unleashed a cacophony of car horns and singing. It has been a good stretch for Uruguayan soccer. Just over a year ago, it finished fourth at the World Cup in South Africa.
"I'm so excited because we won by playing great football ... with skillful play, with teamwork," fan Neumar Noble said. "It's not just about celebrating the win, it's also about celebrating the unity of this team."
Suarez, voted player of the tournament, put Uruguay ahead in the 12th minute when his low, left-footed shot beat the diving Justo Villar and went in off the far post.
Forlan, the 2010 World Cup's best player, made it 2-0 three minutes before halftime when he ran onto a ball from midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios and blasted left-footed past Villar from just inside the penalty box.
In the last minute, Forlan made sure of the title with his second goal at the end of a fine counter-attacking move, steering the ball past Villar and in off the post.
"This squad were very united, they showed that what they did at the World Cup was no fluke and we showed we're the best in (the) Americas," Suarez told reporters. "I think Uruguay have achieved many things and needed not to forget how to win titles."
Uruguay now has one more title than host Argentina, whom it upset on penalties in the quarterfinals, to crown a fine 12 months after its fourth place at the World Cup.
Twice champion Paraguay finished the tournament without a victory having reached the final with five draws and two penalty shootout wins.
Suarez scored four goals in the tournament, one less than top scorer Paolo Guerrero whose hat-trick helped Peru beat Venezuela 4-1 for third place on Saturday.
Forlan, who won a record 82nd cap, ended a year without scoring for his country with his two goals and equaled the national record of 31 held by Hector Scarone.
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